Governor Touts Medicaid Expansion

Gov. Maggie Hassan continues to press the case for Medicaid expansion, as the Republican caucus in the New Hampshire Senate positions itself to reject it in favor of a study. Hassan is scheduled to be in the Weirs this morning to help kick off the 90th Laconia Motorcycle Week, but before that, she will tout Medicaid expansion as another much larger economic benefit for New Hampshire.

Patch caught up with Hassan yesterday to ask how the debate is progressing (WATCH attached video). She says Medicaid expansion and accepting the $2.5 billion in federal funding available will improve the health and well-being of thousands of Granite State families and individuals.

Medicaid is a federal-state program that helps pay health care for the needy, elderly, blind, disabled and low-income families and children. The federal government reimburses a percentage of the state's expenditure.

Senate President Peter Bragdon (R-Milford) has an amendment to study Medicaid expansion. Republicans have a 13-11 edge in the Senate.

In a meeting with constituents on Monday, Bragdon said he remains skeptical about expansion. He questioned whether the federal government would live up to its promises, and he further questioned benefits of expansion. 

The Senate is scheduled to meet today to vote on the $11 billion budget for the fiscal biennium that begins on July 1, 2013.